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Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

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Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#151

Post by Dylan16807 »

flukus wrote: post #71
mastazi wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I agree with you and I think, for people with our type of needs, a more sensible approach would be to switch from smart to dumb phone, in fact I have been thinking about that for a while now.

That would be throwing out the good with the bad. The phone isn't just an internet portal, it's a music player, a navigation system, an audiobook player, a book reader, etc.

Dumb phones can do audio too.

But sure, better to get rid of the data connection than the smarts.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#152

Post by Dylan16807 »

always_good wrote: post #121
therealdrag0 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you still doing it, or?

Aside, you don't need to end a question with "or". It's assumed. It's a non-committal way of writing that I've been seeing lately. As if you need to pre-empt and soften the possible "no" answer to your yes or no question.

People like to vary their language to apply different tones to what they're saying.

Pointing out the obvious fact that it's not necessary doesn't serve any purpose.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#154

Post by elorant »

JacobJans wrote: post #79

I haven't dealt with my laptop based computer addiction, but I have solved my cell phone addiction. It's important to understand how much behavior around technology is based on ingrained habits. My goal with dealing with my phone was to "short-circuit" the habitual/addictive behavior. To do this, I did two things. 1. I turned off all automatic notifications on my phone, as well as all background updates of apps/email…

I solved that problem with a far simpler solution. I don't own a smartphone. I spend eight to ten hours watching a screen at work. Don't want to spend another five doing the same thing in my leisure. I also don't own any tablets, for the same reason, except a Kindle which I use every now and then in commuting. Most people I meet feel surprised when I tell them I don't have a smartphone especially considering that I'm a "computer guy". But the thing is I don't really need it. I can't do any productive work on it and even if I could I wouldn't want to. As for the PC, I'm also off any social network, excluding Hacker News which is addictive but at least I'm learning stuff so I don't consider it procrastination.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#155

Post by Brajeshwar »

JacobJans wrote: post #79

I haven't dealt with my laptop based computer addiction, but I have solved my cell phone addiction. It's important to understand how much behavior around technology is based on ingrained habits. My goal with dealing with my phone was to "short-circuit" the habitual/addictive behavior. To do this, I did two things. 1. I turned off all automatic notifications on my phone, as well as all background updates of apps/email…

Totally agree with turning off Notifications. People, who complained about busy their life, seeking solace from technology, the updates/alerts, et al. have asked for tips or tricks. I told them to disable all notifications. Many are surprised, some feels that I'm turning into a savage, while some got angry.

Anything that asked for permission for notifications, alerts, just do not allow them. That should solve most of the problems.

I wrote an article about it long back (2014) and people really seem to like it [personal plug] - http://brajeshwar.com/2014/missing-step-productivity-activit...

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#156

Post by jamiethompson »

smeroth wrote: post #138
JacobJans wrote: post #79

I haven't dealt with my laptop based computer addiction, but I have solved my cell phone addiction. It's important to understand how much behavior around technology is based on ingrained habits. My goal with dealing with my phone was to "short-circuit" the habitual/addictive behavior. To do this, I did two things. 1. I turned off all automatic notifications on my phone, as well as all background updates of apps/email…

After a long addiction where I had used my phones as projects rather than tools, I decided to unwind. The blinking notification light was the first one to go, as I couldn't concentrate when it was active (which was most of the time). The next step was to buy a huge battery which made my phone twice as thick, but I only needed to charge it every few days which was a huge thing not having to worry about constantly. Aft…

I did a similar thing. I replaced my iPhone (after I dropped and smashed it) with a Nokia 105 "dumbphone". It can only do calls and SMS messaging. It's the best thing I've ever done. I knew I'd get by without most things but I wondered how I'd get by without google maps in my pocket. I bought a road atlas for the car and quickly re-learned how to read a map and plan a route the old fashioned way. If I'm going somewhere the seems remotely complicated to find I'll just print off a google map before I leave. Looking back now, it's scary how reliant I'd become on dumbly following google maps turn by turn directions.

Emails, again I simply deal with the way we used to before smartphones. As and when.

Most 2FA systems also still support SMS as an option so even that's not a limiting factor of using a dumbphone.

My new phone cost me £10 and costs only £5/month to run because I literally cannot use any data.

The only downside I've encountered is the feeling that others are being ignorant/rude whilst blankly staring into their phone. You don't notice this when you're doing it too, but it's really very noticeable once you stop.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#157

Post by r00fus »

wpietri wrote: post #132
diminoten wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well okay sure, but engineered or not, alcohol is very addictive. There are probably more addictive substances, but alcohol really is up there on that list. You could probably engineer a better addictive substance, but not one nearly as pervasive in global culture. There's something truly unique about alcohol that isn't true of any other addictive substance on the planet.

Huh. It looks like alcohol is in the middle of the common drugs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence#Dependenc... I'm not sure about pervasiveness, though. In the US, a lot more people are caffeine dependent. And Facebook's MAU is way higher than alcohol's.

pervasiveness is a factor. If you think of the addiction as an "infection" then relapse/reinfection is a lot easier when the reinfection vectors are pervasive.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#158

Post by mbrock »

cwyers wrote: post #133

Something about the headline nags at me. I don't really like the idea that being "productive" all the time is a positive thing. My brain is for more than achieving things. It is in point of fact okay to use it for watching silly YouTube videos for half an hour, an hour, whatever.

During the time periods when I haven't had internet at home nor on my phone (three months times two in different cities) it hasn't made me more "productive", it's primarily made me more relaxed, grounded, and happy.

Coming home to a house without internet is a very special feeling to me, aside from concerns about time management or getting stuff done. It's just peaceful. I come home and can immediately focus on, for example, cooking, reading a book, meditating, exercising, etc.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#159

Post by mbrock »

zepolen wrote: post #111

Sure let's go back to the dark ages because we lack the self control to do things in moderation. No thanks. Removing internet from my home won't make me more productive, in fact it will make me less productive, as I won't be able to get information instantly, like a recipe for the things that are soon about to go off in my fridge.

Having to walk to a cafe in order to use the internet is not really a return to the middle ages, you know.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#160

Post by mbrock »

therealdrag0 wrote: post #101
jim-jim-jim wrote: post #30

This almost makes sense for me, but I don't know if I can pirate music on coffee shop wifi.

I was about to say "what, streaming services aren't good enough for you?" Then realized you can't stream without home internet >_<. Ah well, I bet you can buy cheap CDs and rip them :)

Spotify Premium lets you download something like three thousand songs for offline play.
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